Over the last couple decades, all branches of ROTC (Army, Navy/Marines, and Air Force) have operated out of the Pershing Military & Naval Science (M&NS) building. Due to the age and current state of the building, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln committed funding in this year’s budget to bringing the building back up to code and quality. Some of the expected upgrades to the building include centralized heating and cooling, new windows, and an elevator. For the University to complete this work, all cadre, cadets, and midshipmen were asked to relocate their operations to the old University Health Center, located just east of Hawks Hall (College of Business). UNL ROTC is expecting to utilize this new facility for as long as three years, depending on the length of time the M&N construction and upgrades require.
On the evening of February 7th, the AFROTC Cadet Wing came together with a goal to move most of their belongings into the new facility and to prepare the remaining items for transit with a contracted moving company. The event was organized and managed by Cadet Luke Landkamer. Before the event, he assigned and met with FTP cadets to be “room-leads”. Their role was to lead their assigned room’s team and the process of getting all room contents processed and ready to go. At the moving event, once a room-lead had completed getting their room boxed up, sorted, and prepared to move, Cadet Landkamer gave them the approval to move their room’s contents to predetermined locations in the new facility. Multiple cadets volunteered the use of their pickup trucks to assist in the move which greatly expedited the moving process. Over the course of three hours that night, the 30 volunteering cadets were able to box up, organize, label, and clean six rooms that AFROTC utilized daily and then transport the appropriate items to the new facility without harm or injury to any cadet. Any items that were not moved that evening were prepared for the movers coming the following week. The Wing had a lot of fun during the event and were rewarded with pizza at the end of the night!
This moving event was an amazing large-scale leadership exercise for all cadets. Everyone was able to see the multiple levels of leadership and the associated duties and expectations for each level. As with all things, there were many things that could have been done better, but at the end of the day, the goal of the event was accomplished. Cadet Landkamer wants to extend the greatest of thanks to each and every cadet who volunteered to help with each portion of the move in the recent few weeks. This night was just a glimpse into one piece of the facility move, but illustrates the commitment all cadets have to completing the mission and helping their Wingmen.
